The Northern Democratic Movement (NDM) has rejected the call by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) and its Lagos-based leader, Yerima Shettima, for a state of emergency in Zamfara State.
In a statement by the convener of NDM, Hon. Ibrahim Sule Sarki, in Abuja, yesterday, the group described the call as baseless.
“This baseless demand is not only misguided but also exposes Shettima’s desperation to remain politically relevant despite his lack of grassroots legitimacy, moral authority, and practical solutions to the North’s challenges,” it said.
The NDM noted with dismay that Yerima Shettima, a self-appointed “leader” whose only connection to Northern Nigeria is his occasional incendiary press releases, has once again chosen to milk a former Zamfara governor through dubious means to promote his narrative.
“While genuine Northern leaders are on the ground collaborating with communities and security agencies to address insecurity, Shettima issues reckless statements from the comfort of Lagos, a city far removed from the realities of Northwestern Nigeria, thanks to the chicken change he receives from a low-ranking minister.
“Shettima’s AYCF lacks any meaningful structure, membership, or credibility in Northern Nigeria as it exists only as a platform for him to audition for patronage from political godfathers. His call for a state of emergency is a deliberate attempt to undermine the constitutional authority of Zamfara State’s democratically elected government and sow chaos for personal relevance,” it said.
The NDM said that it suspects that a former governor who depleted Zamfara’s resources and failed to provide security and infrastructure has now resorted to using Shettima to distract the incumbent governor, who is committed to restoring peace in Zamfara.
The NDM categorically condemned the call for an emergency as a dangerous overreach that would destabilise Zamfara and set a harmful precedent for Nigeria’s democracy.
The statement read, “Security challenges in Zamfara require sustained, intelligence-driven strategies, not politically motivated grandstanding. Governor Dauda Lawal Dare’s administration has made measurable progress, revitalizing community-led vigilance groups with improved training and oversight.
“Gov. Dare also cooperated with federal reinforcements for targeted operations in hotspot areas while launching socio-economic programs to address the root causes of banditry, such as unemployment and rural neglect.”
The NDM challenged Shettima to publicly disclose the last time he visited Zamfara to engage directly with affected communities.
“We ask him to explain the AYCF’s tangible contributions to peacebuilding beyond issuing press statements, and his relationship with political interests benefiting from instability.
“Shettima’s hypocrisy is glaring. While he pontificates on Zamfara’s security, he has never condemned the role of corrupt federal actors, illegal arms traffickers, or external sponsors of banditry. His sudden ‘concern’ for Zamfara reeks of a paid agenda to scapegoat Governor Dare and destabilize the state for his benefactor, who has woefully failed to govern the state rightly when he held sway,” it added.
The NDM called on President Tinubu and the National Assembly to disregard Shettima’s antics and focus on strengthening support for Zamfara’s security architecture.
The NDM added that the state will no longer tolerate those who weaponise their people’s pain for fame. It said that Yerima Shettima represents nobody but himself, adding that true Northerners are working quietly to rebuild the region, not chasing headlines in Lagos.
“The NDM stands in solidarity with the people and government of Zamfara. We reaffirm our confidence in Governor Dare’s commitment to peace and call on all Nigerians to reject fear-mongering by political jobbers like Yerima Shettima. Now is the time for unity, not toxic rhetoric,” it said.
